Kids’ Carnival to raise money for anti-landfill group

They may not be able to cast a vote in any public referendum, but a group of Arcadia children are making sure their voices are being heard. The Concerned Kids of Arcadia is a newly formed organization made up of some of the town’s youngest members — elementary school-age children to be prec...

They may not be able to cast a vote in any public referendum, but a group of Arcadia children are making sure their voices are being heard.

The Concerned Kids of Arcadia is a newly formed organization made up of some of the town’s youngest members — elementary school-age children to be precise. Eight-year-old Trinity Wells teamed up with her cousin, Broden Haltiner, also 8, to organize the group.

Trinity’s mom, Jessica, said her daughter, a third grader at Kelley School, had inquired about the “No Landfill” signs that had sprouted up around the area, especially in and around Fairville, closest to where a solid waste facility is being proposed on town-owned land where the old landfill once operated.

The topic of the landfill came up at the dinner table on more than one occasion, Jessica said. The proposal before the Arcadia Town Board potentially hinges on a public vote regarding the sale of the land to Arcadia Hills developer Joe Alloco, but residents Trinity’s age don’t have a vote. After sharing the facts with her daughter, Jessica said, Trinity was left to draw her own conclusions.

“Who wants 200 trucks driving by your house a day and leaving tracks in your yard,” Trinity said.

She decided she wanted to do something. Her first effort was a donation of $41 of her own money to Concerned Citizens of Arcadia.

But Trinity wasn’t done yet.

Cousin Broden, also a third grader at Kelley School, lives just a hop, skip and a jump away, and he decided to join Trinity in her endeavor as they hashed out ideas to raise money to support CCoA. Gathering more friends from kindergarten through third grade and a few fifth graders, Concerned Kids of Arcadia was formed.

Their first venture into fund-raising has resulted in the Kids’ Carnival set for this Saturday, Nov. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fairville Fire Hall, 2963 Route 88 N. The kids have created a number of games for the event that other children can come play to earn tickets that can be redeemed for prizes.

The 25 members of Concerned Kids are donating not just their time and effort in creating signs and games and manning the carnival booths, but they are also donating their own gently used toys to give away as prizes. Bins filled with like-new toys sat on top of and under a table in the workroom at Trinity’s house — and more are pouring in as the carnival draws closer.

The event will also include a cake walk, 50/50 raffle, zoo tickets, homemade apple butter, jams and pies and food including hamburgers, hot dogs and popcorn. Although the games are for the kids, CCoA was asked to have a booth set up for parents interested in learning more about the group and the proposed landfill. Local businesses and organizations have donated some of the raffle prizes, and CCoA members are donating the cakes for the cake walk. All in all, Jessica said the event will be a good family activity.

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When news of the youths’ plans reached Andy Bodine, president of CCoA, he was astounded by the children’s initiative.

“They are our future, and it looks brighter with kids that care that much about their town,” he said.

Trinity and Broden are “very, very excited” about the coming carnival. If he had to pick a favorite game, Broden said his choice would be the Marshmallow Shoot where contestants will have to shoot marshmallows to topple stacked cans and earn tickets.

Jessica is very proud of her daughter and her nephew — not for opposing the landfill, but for standing up for something they believe in.

“They know they don’t want the landfill,” she said. “But it’s more about being active in their future and the future of where they live.”